Method of reconstructing salvable bowling pins



Sept. 13, 1955 G. J. FRANCAR 2,717,617

METHOD OF' RECONSTRUCTING SALVABLE BOWLING PINS Filed 001;. 6, 1954 Fla@ F/6.4

76'? naa IN VEN TOR. Go/PD o/v PRH/vm@ BY HTTRN Y United States Patent Office 2,717,617 Patented Sept. 13, 1955 METHOD OF RECONSTRUCTIN G SALVABLE BOWLING PINS Gordon J. Francar, Green Bay, Wis.

Application (lctober 6, 1954, Serial No. 460,698

8 Claims. (Cl. 144-309) This invention relates to bowling pins, and more particularly to a new and novel method of salvaging and reconstructing salvable bowling pins.

The purpose of this invention is to restore salvable bowling pins to standard specifications, thereby eliminating the usual waste brought about by their total destruction. After their reconstruction, the bowling pins serve another useful, normal life.

The new and novel method of arriving at a fully laterally expanded bowling pin structure contemplates the use of only one slab of wood and two large asymmetric bowling pin segments.

A salvable bowling pin is a used or damaged bowling pin, or the like, whose surface has become dented, cracked, chipped, splintered, or otherwise damaged; or a new or used bowling pin or unfinished bowling pin that is overweight; or a defective new bowling pin that is rejectable because of the presence therein of knots, cracks, cavities, bad surfaces, or is otherwise imperfectly formed, or the like.

An object of this Vinvention is the provision of a novel method for cheaply and inexpensively restoring salvable bowling pins.

Another object is the replacement of salvable bowling pins at a relatively inexpensive cost.

Still another object of this invention is the conservation of select hard maple that otherwise would be wasted.

Yet another object is the provision of a new and novel method whereby selected portions of two salvable bowling pins are united in the formation of one reconstructed bowling pin.

A further object of this invention is the provision of a new and novel method whereby portions of salvable bowling pins, damaged too severely to allow of reconstructing by the usual methods, are discarded, and the remaining useable portions are united in the formation of a single reconstructed bowling pin.

Still a further object is the provisionof a new and novel method, of reconstructing salvable bowling pins, requiring the addition of only a single slab of new material for expanding a bowling pin.

Yet a further object of this invention is the provision of a new and novel method of reconstructing salvable bowling pins, whereby the lateral dimension in one d1'- rection is expanded without. the necessity of an interposed slab of new material.

Another object of this invention is the provision of a new and novel method of reconstructing salvable bowling pins, which are overweight, by compensating for the overweight by the use of a wood slab of less density than the salvable pin.

Other objects and many of the attendant advantages of this invention will be readily appreciated as the same becomes better understood by reference to the following detailed description when considered in connection with the accompanying drawings in which like reference numerals designate like parts throughout the figures thereof and wherein:

Fig. l is a plan view of a salvable bowling pin which has been sawed into two longitudinal asymmetric segments, showing the left segment thereof being larger than the right segment, and showing the unequal segments in spaced relation;

Fig. 2 is a plan view of two saidlarge asymmetric segments cemented together at their cut faces to form a partially laterally expanded, roughbowling pin unit;

Fig. 3 is a plan view of the partially expanded rough bowling pin unit bisected longitudinally along a plane at right angle to the cemented faces, showing the symmetric half segments in spaced relation;

Fig. 4 is a plan view of the symmetric half segments, oppositely disposed and cemented on opposite faces of a wood slab, forming a fully laterally expanded rough pin structure;

Fig. 5 is an elevation view of the divided bowling pin of Fig. l;

Fig. 6 is an elevation view of the partially expanded rough bowling pin unit of Fig. 2;

Fig. 7 is an elevation view of the bisected rough bowling pin unit of Fig. 3 showing the symmetric halves in spaced relation;

Fig. 8 is an elevation view of the fully expanded rough bowling pin structure of Fig. 4, showing the interposed wood slab;

Fig. 9 is a perspective view of the fully expanded rough bowling pin structure of Fig. 8;

Fig. l0 is an elevation view of a reconstructed pin, after removing excess outer portions of the rough pin structure to provide a bowling pin of a size and shape substantially equal to a standard bowling pin.

Referring now to the drawings, wherein like reference characters designate like or corresponding parts throughout the several views, there is shown, in Figs. 1 and 5, a salvable bowling pin, generally indicated at 9, sawed into two longitudinal asymmetrical segments 10 and 11, segment 10 being larger than segment 11. The salvable pin is sawed longitudinally on a plane parallel to the axis of the bowling pin and spaced normally approximately three-eighths inch from said axis. This results in the pin being divided into two unequal longitudinal segments, one being three-eighths inch larger in width, and the other three-eighths inch (il/8) smaller in width than symmetric half segments would be.

A second salvable bowling pin is similarly divided into a large segment 10 and a small segment. The two large asymmetrical segments 10 and 10 are selected for further use, and the two smaller segments discarded.

It is preferred that the above dividing cuts be made parallel to the flat grain of the pins, thereby providing a maximum of edge grain in the finished bowling pin, due to a slab insert to be hereinafter described.

Alternatively, the dividing cuts can be made to isolate major defects most distantly from the dividing plane, thereby allowing for the ultimate removal of said defects in the trimming process to be hereinafter described.

Still alternatively, the dividing cut can be made so as to isolate hopeless defects, rendering that segment beyond salvation and therefore discardable, and saving the other useable segment for association with a similar useable segment from another pin, in the reconstruction process to be hereinafter described.

The two out faces of said large segments are made smooth in any suitable manner, as by sandpapering or by equivalent process. The two smoothed cut faces of said large segments 10 and 10 are now supplied with a thin coating of glue or cement, then oppositely disposed, and said faces juxtaposed and held pressed together until the cement has dried and the segments firmly united into a unitary partially expanded rough bowling pin unit as 3 indicated generally at 12. The cement joint is indicated at 13.

It is to be noted that since each large segment is approximately three-eighths inch (S/sf) greater ,than a symmetric half segment, uniting them results in a rough bowling pin unit that has been expanded unidirectionally or side-wise having a dimension in one direction that is three-fourths inch greater than the corresponding dimensionvof a standard bowling pin.

Thereupon, the partially expanded unit is bisected longitudinally along a plane at right angle to the previously cut faces, as villustrated in Fig. 3, resulting in equal symmetric segments 14 and 15. After appropriately smoothing the newly formed cut faces, glue or Cement is applied thereto, and the oppositely vdisposed equal Segments are mounted on oppositesides of a hard maple slab 16, and the faces held pressed thereto until the glue or cement has dried and the symmetric segments 14 and 1S, and slab 16, are firmly united kinto a unitary fully expanded rough bowling pin structure, generally indicated at 17.

The slab should be preferably approximately one-half inch longer than the salvable pin, and have a width approximately as great as the expanded width Vof the unit. The segments should be preferably Centered thereon.

The over-all bulk and circumference is now greater than a standard pin, so that when said pin structure is trimmed down to proper size, the damaged surfaces of the original pins will be removed.

The portions of the wood slab projecting beyond the outline of the pin segments are first removed, preferably with a band saw.

The resulting wood body, which is substantially larger than a standard bowling pin, though substantially the same shape, is mounted in a lathe with the spindle points substantially on therlongitudinal axis of said wood body. Such body is trimmed down gradually with the use of suitable lathe cutting tools to a size and shape corresponding to the size and shape of a standard bowling pin. The resulting reconstructed pin, generally indicated at 18, is: illustrated in Fig. 10.

A feature of this invention is the provision of a new and novel process of salvaging and reconstructing Adamaged bowling pins including the Vsteps whereby salvable bowling pins are divided asymmetrically and the larger portions thereof are united, thereby forming a partially expanded rough bowling pin unit adapted for further expanding by a slab insert. v Obviously many modifications and variations of the presentinvention are possible in the light of the above teachings. It is therefore to be understood, that within the scope of the appended claims, the invention may be practised otherwise than as specifically described.y

What is claimed and desired to be protected by Letters Patent of the United States is:

l. A method of reconstructing salvable bowling pins comprising the steps of: dividing salvable bowling pins intotwo asymmetric segments; uniting a pair of larger asymmetric segments thereof, oppositely disposed, into a unit; bisecting said unit, along a plane at right angle to the initial dividing plane, into two half segments; unitingV the two half segments, oppositely disposed, upon opposite faces -of a wood slab; thence removing the projecting parts of said slab and cutting away the exterior parts of said pin segments and of said slab to provide a resulting bowling pin of size and shape corresponding to a new bowling pin.

2. A method of reconstructing salvable bowling pins comprising the steps of: separating a pair of salvable bowling pins into two unequal segments; cementing the larger segments thereof, oppositely disposed, into a unit; bisecting said unit, along a plane at right angle to the initial separating plane, into half segments; aflixing the two half segments, oppositely disposed, upon opposite faces of a wood slab; thence cutting and trimming away 4 the outer portions of the slab and said segments to provide *a resulting bowling pin of a shape and size substantially corresponding to the shape and size of a standard bowling pin.

3. A method of reconstructing salvable bowling pins comprising the steps of: cutting a pair of salvable bowling pins into two longitudinal segments along a plane substantially three-eighths of an inch to one side of said pins axis; applyingrancoating of 'cement to the cut pin faces of the larger segments; disposing the cut faces opposite each other and juxtaposing said faces; pressing together said segments Vuntil the cement is suiciently dry forming a unit; bisecting said unit, along a plane at right angle to the initial cutting plane, intotwo half segments; applying a coating of cement to the newly cut faces of said half segments; disposing the two half segments, oppositcly disposed, on opposite faces of a wood slab; pressing together `said lj1alf segments )until the cement is sufliciently `'forming a"full`y "expanded bowling pin structure; and removing excess outer portions of the structure to provide a bowling 'pin of a size and shape substantially l equal Eto a ndard bowling pin.

4.Afmethd reconstructing salvable bowling pins, comprising the steps of: dividing salvable pins into two asymmetric segments; uniting a pair of larger asymmetric segments thereof, oppositely disposed, into a unit; bisectinfg unit, along a plane at right angle to the initial dividing plane, into two half segments; uniting the two half segments upon the opposite faces of a wood slabhaving andensity differing from that of said larger asymmetric` segments, forming a fully expanded bowling pin structure; and removing excess outer portions of the structure toprovide a bowling pin of a size and shape substantially equal to a standard bowling pin.

5. method of `reconstructi rig salvable bowling pins comprising the 'steps of: dividing vsalvable bowling pins into two 'asymmetric segments; uniting a pair of larger asymmetricsegments thereof, oppositely disposed, into a unit; bisectingsaid unit, along a plane at right angle to the initial dividing plane, into two half segments; uniting the two half segments, oppositely disposed, upon the opposite faces `of a wood slab having a density less than thatof said larger asymmetric segments, forming a fully exparidedbowling pin structure; and removing excess -outer portions of the structure tol provide a bowling pin aksiz'e and shape substantially equal to a standard bowling pin. l

6. A method of reconstructing salvable bowling pins comprising the* steps of: dividing salvable bowling pins into two asymmetric segments; uniting a pair of larger asymmetric segmentsth'ereof, oppositely disposed, into a unit; bisectingsaid unit, along a plane at right angle to the initial 'dividingfplane into two halfsegments; uniting the two half segmentawoppositely disposed, upon the opposite faces of awo'od slab having a density greater than thatno'fsaid larger asymmetric segments, forming a fully expanded bowling pin structure to provide a bowling pin of a size and shape substantially equal to a standard bowlingpin.

7. yA i'neth'od ofreconstructing salvable bowling pins, comprising of; dividing salvable bowling pins into two asy'mrne ic segments, the position of the dividing plane being selected to include the major pin defects in the smallerrejectable segments, and the `minor defects inthe larger useable segments; uniting a pair of larger useable segments, oppositely disposed, into a unit; bisecting saidlunit, along a plane. at right angle to the initial dividing plane, into two half segments; mounting the two halfsegments, oppositely disposed, on opposite faces of a wood slab; thence cutting and trimming away the outer portions of the slab and said segments to provide a resulting bowlingpinof 'a ,shape and size corresponding to the shape and size of a standard bowling A method of reconstructing salvable bowling pins,

comprising the steps of: dividing salvable bowling pins into two asymmetric segments, on a plane selected to isolate major defects most distantly from said dividing plane, and on the larger segments; uniting a pair of larger asymmetric segments thereof, oppositely disposed, into a unit; bisecting said unit, along a plane at right angle to the initial dividing plane, into two half segments; mounting the two half segments, oppositely disposed, on opposite faces of a wood slab; thence cutting and trimming away the outer portion of the slab and said segments to provide a resulting bowling pin of a size and shape corresponding to the size and shape of a standard bowling pin.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,634,774 Francar Apr. 14, 1953 

